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GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

Guidance for Industry: Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting May 2022

Final
Docket Number:
FDA-2018-D-4534
Issued by:
Guidance Issuing Office
Human Foods Program

This guidance document is intended to inform the sprout seed industry (seed growers, conditioners, packers, holders, suppliers, and distributors) of FDA’s serious concern with the continuing outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of raw and lightly-cooked sprouts and to provide our recommendations to firms throughout the production chain of seed for sprouting. Throughout this guidance document, we refer to everything that can be sprouted, including beans, as “seeds.”  

The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way, unless specifically incorporated into a contract. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law. FDA guidance documents, including this guidance, should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word should in FDA guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.   

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You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))

If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:

Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2018-D-4534.

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